Tennessee DUI Laws Archives

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January 08, 2024

New DUI Law Alert–Work Release Requirement Update

The Tennessee Legislature passed several new laws that are scheduled to take effect on January 1, 2024. The second DUI related …

Frequently Asked Questions Ignition Interlock Device Tennessee Driver's License Tennessee DUI Consequences Tennessee DUI Information Tennessee DUI Laws Tennessee DUI News

January 01, 2024

New DUI Law Alert–Ignition Interlock Device Update

The Tennessee Legislature passed several new laws that are scheduled to take effect on January 1, 2024. Very few of …

Boating Under the Influence (BUI) DUI Penalties Field Sobriety Tests Hiring a Tennessee DUI Attorney Legal Rights Tennessee DUI Checkpoints Tennessee DUI Consequences Tennessee DUI Information Tennessee DUI Laws Tennessee DUI News Traffic Citations Traffic Ticket

August 28, 2019

Labor Day Weekend 2019: Sobriety Checkpoints Planned for East Tennessee

Drivers in East Tennessee need to be mindful during the upcoming Labor Day Weekend while driving to the lake for …

Boating Under the Influence (BUI) DUI First Offense Penalties DUI Penalties Hiring a Tennessee DUI Attorney Legal Rights Tennessee Driver's License Tennessee DUI Consequences Tennessee DUI Information Tennessee DUI Laws Tennessee DUI News Tennessee DUI Penalties Tennessee Traffic Violations TN BUI

July 03, 2019

Don’t Drink and Scoot

On July 1, 2019, several new laws and modifications of current Tennessee DUI laws were implemented. The first we will …

Boating Under the Influence (BUI) Breath Chemical (Blood criminal offense DUI Penalties Field Sobriety Tests Frequently Asked Questions Horizontal Gaze Nystagmus Test Legal Rights One Leg Stand Test Tennessee DUI Checkpoints Tennessee DUI Chemical Tests Tennessee DUI Consequences Tennessee DUI Information Tennessee DUI Laws Tennessee DUI News Tennessee DUI Penalties Tennessee Traffic Violations Walk and Turn Test

August 27, 2018

Tennessee Highway Patrol Planned Checkpoint For Labor Day 2018

Motorists in Knoxville need to be mindful during the upcoming Labor Day Weekend while driving to the lake or local …

Breath Chemical (Blood Chemical Tests Tennessee DUI Laws Tennessee DUI News

March 19, 2018

When the State’s Expert Witness Has a Financial Interest in DUI Convictions

On February 6, 2018, the Tennessee Court of Criminal Appeals ruled that Tennessee Code Annotated § 55-10-413(f), which establishes a BADT …

Chemical Tests Legal Rights Tennessee DUI Checkpoints Tennessee DUI Chemical Tests Tennessee DUI Information Tennessee DUI Laws Tennessee DUI News

December 30, 2016

“No Refusal” Sobriety Checkpoints on New Year’s Eve

On New Year’s Eve, as 2016 draws to a close, Tennessee Highway Patrol troopers will be out in force with …

DUI Fourth Offense DUI Penalties Tennessee DUI Consequences Tennessee DUI Information Tennessee DUI Laws Tennessee DUI News Tennessee DUI Penalties Uncategorized

June 06, 2016

Increased Jail Time for Some DUI Offenders in Tennessee

Beginning in July 2016, drunk drivers who have prior DUI convictions will face more severe penalties.[1] The Tennessee General Assembly …

DUI Penalties DUI Third Offense Tennessee Driver's License Tennessee DUI Laws

March 14, 2015

2015 Update – Two Legislative Proposals Regarding DUI & Alcohol in Tennessee

During the 2015 legislative term, Tennessee lawmakers have proposed two separate bills that address the use of alcohol. Designed with …

Frequently Asked Questions Tennessee DUI Information Tennessee DUI Laws Tennessee DUI News

February 10, 2015

DUI by Prescription Medication

One of the most common misconceptions in Driving Under the Influence cases is that a person cannot be convicted of …

Ignition Interlock Device Tennessee Driver's License Tennessee DUI Laws

September 30, 2013

Ignition Interlock Device Requirements Under the New Tennessee DUI Laws

Below is a brief outline of some of the most frequently asked questions regarding ignition interlock device requirements as a …

Chemical (Blood Chemical Tests Frequently Asked Questions Tennessee DUI Laws Tennessee DUI News

July 02, 2013

Fourth of July “No Refusal” Weekend in Tennessee

The Tennessee Highway Patrol and the Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security have issued a media release dated July …

Chemical Tests Frequently Asked Questions Legal Rights Tennessee DUI Laws Tennessee DUI News

December 28, 2012

Tennessee No Refusal DUI Enforcement

Several Knoxville media outlets are reporting increased Tennessee DUI enforcement for the upcoming holiday. Please visit the following links for …

Court Procedures Frequently Asked Questions Hiring a Tennessee DUI Attorney Tennessee DUI Consequences Tennessee DUI Information Tennessee DUI Laws

October 26, 2012

Could I be charged after the fact if my friend got a DUI in my car in which I was a passenger?

Law enforcement officers investigating a potential crime make important decisions about who to arrest. At the scene of a suspected …

Court Procedures DUI Fourth Offense DUI Penalties DUI Second Offense DUI Third Offense Forfeiture Hiring a Tennessee DUI Attorney Tennessee DUI Consequences Tennessee DUI Information Tennessee DUI Laws Tennessee DUI Penalties Tennessee Traffic Violations

October 13, 2012

DUI Vehicle Forfeiture: What you should know if you receive a “Notice of Seizure”

The Tennessee Department of Safety, through law enforcement officers, may seize the vehicle of anyone suspected of multiple DUIs. A …

DUI First Offense Penalties DUI Penalties Hiring a Tennessee DUI Attorney Tennessee DUI Consequences Tennessee DUI Information Tennessee DUI Laws Tennessee DUI Penalties Uncategorized

October 02, 2012

DUI: Misdemeanor or Felony?

A First Offense DUI in Tennessee is always a Misdemeanor (sentence of less than 1 year in jail) if no …

Frequently Asked Questions Hiring a Tennessee DUI Attorney Tennessee DUI Information Tennessee DUI Laws

September 26, 2012

Can I be convicted of DUI when in a parked vehicle?

Yes. In Tennessee, it is possible to be convicted of a DUI while sitting in a parked vehicle with or …

Chemical Tests Frequently Asked Questions Tennessee DUI Chemical Tests Tennessee DUI Laws

July 19, 2012

Tennessee DUI No Refusal Weekends

I am often asked about the “No Refusal Weekends” you may have heard about recently. Allow me to answer two …

Frequently Asked Questions Ignition Interlock Device Tennessee Driver's License Tennessee DUI Laws

July 13, 2012

The New Implied Consent Violation Restricted Driver’s License

As discussed in a prior post, The Implied Consent Violation Restricted Driver’s License, we are often asked: Can a motorist, …

Chemical (Blood Chemical Tests DUI Penalties Frequently Asked Questions Tennessee DUI Chemical Tests Tennessee DUI Consequences Tennessee DUI Information Tennessee DUI Laws Tennessee DUI Penalties

June 13, 2012

Tennessee Laws Get Tougher

At least two Tennessee laws have made it more difficult to defend persons accused of driving under the influence and, …

Chemical (Blood Chemical Tests Tennessee DUI Chemical Tests Tennessee DUI Laws Tennessee DUI News

April 12, 2012

Your blood can now be taken by someone not certified to do so.

In his March 7, 2012 post, Steve Oberman posed the question, “Would you want your blood taken by someone not …

Chemical (Blood Chemical Tests Frequently Asked Questions Legal Rights Tennessee DUI Chemical Tests Tennessee DUI Information Tennessee DUI Laws Tennessee DUI News

March 07, 2012

Would you want your blood taken by someone not certified to do so?

In 2012 Senate Bill 2787, Senator Brian Kelsey, a Republican from Germantown (part of Shelby County), has sponsored a bill …

Court Procedures DUI First Offense Penalties DUI Fourth Offense DUI Penalties DUI Second Offense DUI Third Offense Frequently Asked Questions Hiring a Tennessee DUI Attorney Legal Rights Tennessee DUI Consequences Tennessee DUI Information Tennessee DUI Laws Tennessee DUI Penalties

March 06, 2012

How long can a person go to jail for a Tennessee DUI?

The number of prior DUI convictions in a defendant’s past significantly affects the amount of jail time a defendant may …

Court Procedures DUI Penalties Frequently Asked Questions Hiring a Tennessee DUI Attorney Tennessee DUI Information Tennessee DUI Laws

February 22, 2012

What if a person accidentally misses a court date for a Tennessee DUI?

Court dates should always be a defendant’s highest priority, aside from urgent family emergencies. If a person expects to miss …

Court Procedures DUI Penalties DUI Second Offense Frequently Asked Questions Hiring a Tennessee DUI Attorney Tennessee DUI Information Tennessee DUI Laws

September 29, 2011

Can A Prior Out-Of-State Conviction Be Used Against You?

If my prior DUI conviction was in another state, can it be used in Tennessee to charge me with a …

DUI Fourth Offense DUI Penalties DUI Second Offense DUI Third Offense Frequently Asked Questions Tennessee DUI Consequences Tennessee DUI Laws Tennessee DUI Penalties

March 20, 2011

When Will Your Prior DUI Conviction Be Used Against You?

Understanding when and if a prior conviction for Driving Under the Influence can be used against you to increase the …

Ignition Interlock Device Tennessee DUI Laws

January 29, 2011

New TN Ignition Interlock Device Laws–Part 3

Part 3: Discretionary Tennessee Ignition Interlock Device In addition to the mandatory ignition interlock device (IID) requirements for certain DUI …

Ignition Interlock Device Tennessee DUI Laws

January 26, 2011

New TN Ignition Interlock Device Laws — Part 2

Part 2: Mandatory Tennessee Ignition Interlock Device Requirement For Offenders With Prior DUI Convictions A person convicted of Tennessee DUI, …

Ignition Interlock Device Tennessee DUI Laws

January 24, 2011

New TN Ignition Interlock Device Laws–Part 1

Over the next several weeks, Tennessee DUI Center will be highlighting information about the new laws applicable to Tennessee DUI …

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November 08, 2010

As of July 1, 2010, a DUI Conviction Costs You More

Among the new and updated DUI/DWI-related laws generated from the Tennessee 106th General Assembly (2010) is the requirement that each …

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November 02, 2010

Can Your Prior DUI Conviction Be Used Against You?

If you have been arrested for DUI/DWI in Tennessee, how do you know if a prior DUI or DWI conviction …